Unbound

The Undone #3

by Peyton Corinne

A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Paloma Blake is, at best, antagonistic. But beneath the hairspray, attitude, and promiscuity is a scared girl whose trauma runs deep. Still, the walls she’s built are strong, ensuring everyone only sees Paloma’s sexy façade. Everyone except for Bennett.

Bennett Reiner, the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie, has his routines and sticks to them, which helps him keep a hold on his OCD compulsions and the crippling anxiety that comes with them. The quiet and meticulous Bennett sees everything, especially the girl beneath Paloma’s ever-present masks. And he always has.

Unbeknownst to their friends, Bennett and Paloma were each other’s first real love, which ended in crippling heartbreak. Bennett still doesn’t know what happened, and Paloma is determined to stay away from the comfort she used to find only in his arms. For years, Bennett has remained her protective shadow, coming to Paloma’s rescue whenever she asked, keeping her as close and safe as she’ll let him. But, like a tumultuous sea to a constant shore, Bennett and Paloma find each other once more.

Alternating between scenes from their past and present, Unbound contrasts the tentative tension and passionate beginnings of first love with the devastating loneliness and deep yearning of having that love ripped away from you without truly knowing why. As Bennett discovers the truth about Paloma’s past, the threads to his careful control start to come unbound, and both begin to realize that letting go of everything else might be worth it, if it means they both get the real love they once shared again.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Second Chance, Sports, Hockey Romance, Contemporary Romance

496 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

೯⠀⁺ ⠀ 𖥻 4.25 stars ✶

⤹ BENNETT REINER. i’m hopelessly in love with this man. multiple times throughout reading this book i got genuinely depressed and hopeless because my life will literally not be complete without this man being my arms 24/7. he made my cry, giggle, my heart have dangerous palpitations, and my brain have a seizure just by how badly i need him. oh my GOD 💆🏻‍♀️🛐. don’t even talk to me right now because i’m still reeling by how much i needed him. i LOVE introspective boys, and bennett was one of the most emotionally intelligent, aware, and caring mmc’s ever. hands down, no competition 💋🧎🏻‍♀️

☆ (    a list of a few things that this man did for her   ) ...

— writes poetry ONLY for her and gives it to her
— finds poetry everyday that reminds him of her and gives it to her
— washes her hair everyday
— always keeps snacks in his big for her in case she didn’t eat that day
— COOKS FOR HER

i miss this man so much and his anxiety-ridden self (relatable) and UGH 😭 please take me back to this book where he was already PINING for her in the beginning. every move he made even when he was overthinking it was just the purest and most sincere ever. i never had any bad thoughts about this man, even at the beginning when they weren’t together, because he is the definition of genuine.

⤹ ( some of my most gut wrenching and favorite quotes from this man ) — 🖇️

— “hey, hey,” he comes, putting his travel mug down and rubbing his hands over my arms. gooseflesh rises in the wake of his touch “you don’t need to explain. it’s fine. I just need dto make sure you’re okay. SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP SOBBING 😭🥰💋🫠💌💖💘💕❤️‍🔥💝💓 ❣️💗💞

— “even if she *did* eat already, i won’t be able to keep from wanting to slip her the childish snacks - a yogurt, crackers, fruit snacks-i always packer for her, just in case. just to be sure.” A MAN WHO CARES.

— “let me sew my soul to yours like some great patchwork quilt across a sandless beach— just you and me. and the water between us.”

— he gasps a breath, eyes welling “that i couldn’t do *this life* without knowing you’re alive and safe and okay. that you are the greatest love i’ve ever know and will ever know. that your kindness, gentleness, love — it *saved* me before you even knew.” no you’re crying.

— *the love of my goddamn life.* the constant shore to her tumbling, lovely, alive and vibrant sea. 😶

﹒ꗃ paloma, aka an FMC that swims, aka a superior FMC. i loved how she cared for bennett and wasn’t afraid or shied away from any of his nervous tendencies. she’s such a strong and independent woman and so many times throughout the book i felt bad for her but was also awed by her the entire time. i can’t put it into words, but something about her just stood out to me from all the other fmc’s — on the surface level, may be called a pick me, but when you go deeper into the book, it’s clear that those are just her nuances and not actions she does for other people. her experience as a child shook me up but peyton corrine handled it so well and with such delicacy — she didn’t try to “solve” it by the end, but instead had paloma manage it in a healthy and admiring way that added to the relationship and story, instead of taking away from it.

﹑ꕤ﹒୧ their relationship is E V E R Y T H I N G to me. this book truly is part of the “soulmates” trope, Bennett and paloma are meant for each other, and it’s exemplified through every experience they have in this book. i loved every single moment they had together, right from the beginning. their soft, gentle, and steady understanding for each other made me cry multiple times. their unwavering patience and protectiveness for each other just ugh 😭 if you’re looking for YEARNING this book won’t disappoint.

ꕤ ⊹ my only problem was this book was the length. although this passed by pretty quickly, i still had too many moments where i was bored. however, this book is around 500 pages & a romance so it was inevitable that it would drag at times, and i do understand why it would need to be this long.

୭౿ ！🗝️ overall…. please read this book 🥹 my heart isn’t mine anymore, it belongs to this book.

thank you so much to netgalley for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹


i'm in love

⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹

☆ ── preread ⊹
BENNETT AND PALOMA 😭❤️‍🩹

❍ thank you to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[maria]

GOT THE ARC!!!😭😭😭 Getting the approval felt like Christmas morning

if you know me, you know how much I love unloved and the way I NEEDED to read this book😫 can’t wait to start this next

________


A HOT NEW BOMBSHELL ENTERS THE VILLA🙂‍↕️

No one can convince me that this isn’t one of the prettiest covers ever😝

__________


OH. MY. GOD. THIS IS GOING TO BE SECOND CHANCE?????😭 my fav trope ever, I’m not ready.



this book is going to kill me, I can’t wait until April 2026😩 Paloma and Bennett deserves all the happiness in the world.


the scenes i found of them in unloved!!!


ೃ⁀➷ Actually, I've never seen Paloma with friends.
Not any real ones, at least, and no one I could name. She's always alone.
Thankfully when I look back at her, Bennett is already there, kneeling by her side and whispering something quickly to her, at which she shakes her head and closes her eyes. His jaw clenches tight, but he doesn't move. I relax a little knowing I don't have to watch her so closely anymore-I trust any of my team to take care of her, but Bennett above most everyone else.

╰┈➤ Paloma not having friends but Bennett being always there for her😔😔 just pull the trigger, it’s going to hurt less


ೃ⁀➷ Bennett is with a girl sitting two steps down from him, her arms wrapped around his massive thigh and calf, blond hair pouring over his jean-clad knee where his hand gently combs through the strands, careful and slow. He isn't looking at her, surveying the party as he usually might. But— Steps faltering, I do a quick double-take as we pass them and realize it's Paloma, face serene and eyes closed as she lies in Reiner's lap while the stoic goalie carefully guards over her.
He barely flicks his eyes up to meet mine, but his face is a stone mask before he nods to Ro on my heels and gives me a stern, disapproving trown.
You're the one with Paloma fucking Blake sleeping like a puppy on your thigh while you pet her hair, but sure. Let's question my decisions.

╰┈➤ HE IS PETTING HER HAIR😫


ೃ⁀➷ He opens the door wide as he speaks and his black lab, Seven, lifts his head from the bed before stepping gently over someone in Bennett's bed. I can't stop my immediate reaction. My eyebrows shoot up-because Bennett doesn't date or even sleep around, from what I know. And I've known Bennett Reiner for going on four years now.

His service dog pads toward him with a whine, and nudges his hand with a wet nose.
Bennett whispers, "Go back to her," so quietly I can barely hear him. Still, I can see Seven settling back against the lump beneath the covers, partially covered by the door and Bennett's body as he protectively pulls it further to block my now searching gaze.



ೃ⁀➷ He clears his throat before quietly offering,
"Sometimes the people we love most hurt us the easiest, even if they don't mean to.
I pause, struck a little by the statement.
"And do you forgive them?"
"Yeah. At least . . . for her. I'll always forgive her." He grips the steering wheel harder. "Don't think I could hold a grudge against her if I tried."
The confession strikes me a little. It's the most I've heard him talk, really.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why keep trying when it hurts?" I nearly choke on the words, but Bennett only grants me a sad smile, rubbing his mouth a little as he turns down South College.
"Because they've been disappointed by too many people," he says. "And I won't be one of them." He pauses and heaves a heavy sigh.
"And ... she deserves it."

╰┈➤ THE WAY HE TALKS ABOUT HER🥺🥺

[aira · Rating 4 out of 5]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.75/5

It took me forever to write this review because I really needed to let this sink in for me to properly articulate all my thoughts.

I just have to talk about how this has been such a good series so far. This book and Unloved have both been highly rated by me, literally like around 4 stars for both which is basically unheard of these days. I have yet to read Unsteady, but I'll get to it sometime super soon and I'm sure it'll be just as highly rated.

And then, there was the fact that this was a second chance romance with a dual timeline. Both of which, if executed properly, are my favorites. We all know about my second chance obsession, so I won't even bother writing paragraphs about that, but the dual timeline is something I love just as much. I love seeing how the characters have changed and evolved between the past and present. It's always really beautiful to read about.

The friendship between Bennet and Rhys was so sweet. The scenes where they all have breakfast were super cute. I loved seeing both Freddy and Ro as well as Rhys and Sadie (even if I haven't read their book). Everything that happened with Paloma made me so sad. It totally broke my heart, but I loved seeing her growth and getting her happy ending which was well deserved. I also love when books discuss a character going to therapy instead of just making them have sex as a way to heal so that was another plus point here.

Also, I absolutely loved Toren and his bonding with Bennet.

The only thing I would have to say on the flip side would be that I didn't really understand the whole need for Rhys and Paloma together in the past (even if it was for a while). It kind of felt super detached from the rest of the book, but their friendship in the present was still wholesome so it didn't take away too much for me.

It will be a huge YES from me, but like can you blame me? Second chance, dual timeline, undone universe was bound to make this a hit for me.

Thank you to Peyton Corinne, Atria Books, and Netgalley for this arc!!

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3.5!! rtc.

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ahhhhhhhhh, I got the arc!! it's second chance, nobody needs to convince me any further 🤭

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡]

pre-read:

y’all it’s my turn to read this book now 🙂‍↕️ i absolutely loved the second book and i’m SO excited for this one because just look at THAT cover?! it’s so pretty and i’m hoping that the first two books will have a cover similar with this one 🤭 going in with expectations because i have such a good feeling about this one!

・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・

pre-release:

this book is now part of my anticipated release for next year!! the description of this book is just giving SOOOO MUCH POTENTIAL! if you’ve read unloved, you’d know that they are mentioned there and omg there’s just so much to look forward to 😩 + this is a second chance romance book!!!! A HIT OR MISS TROPE BUT I HAVE HIGH HOPPPPPEEES!🤞🏼🥹

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎ [semiᝰia] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars.
book 25 from the list of 26
This book didn’t destroy me, but it lingered.
Unbound is emotionally heavy in a quiet, slow-seeping way. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t scream for your attention; it sits beside you, presses on tender places, and waits for you to notice. I went into this expecting intensity, and while it didn’t fully wreck me, it absolutely left a mark.

The dual timeline does a lot of the emotional lifting. Watching the tenderness of first love unfold while knowing how fractured the present is creates an ache that never really lets up. The contrast works, innocence versus distance, closeness versus restraint, though at times the back-and-forth stretched certain moments longer than necessary. I felt the longing, but I also felt the drag.

── .✦

°˖➴Bennett:
Bennett was, hands down, the emotional anchor of this story for me. His reliance on routine, his anxiety, his compulsions, everything about him felt intentional and respectfully written, never exaggerated or reduced to a trait checklist. He’s the kind of character who speaks softly but feels loudly. He notices everything, loves carefully, and carries an overwhelming amount of emotion in the pauses, the restraint, the things he doesn’t say. His affection isn’t grand or performative; it’s steady, consuming, and deeply sincere. Watching his control slowly fracture was far more compelling to me than any external conflict in the book.

°˖➴ Peloma:
Paloma, on the other hand, is thorny and complex in a way that’s both understandable and, at times, distancing. Her sharpness is armor, her confidence a deliberate misdirection, and her trauma is very real. I never doubted the why behind her behavior, but there were moments when her refusal to be emotionally present kept me at arm’s length. I understood her choices more than I felt them. Loving someone who won’t let themselves be fully loved is exhausting, and the story doesn’t shy away from that truth. Sometimes that honesty works beautifully; other times, it creates an emotional imbalance that made it harder for me to stay fully immersed.

── .✦

I didn’t feel a deep, personal attachment to the characters, but I genuinely loved who they were and how their relationship unfolded. The way their bond was built, slowly, thoughtfully, and with intention, was one of the strongest elements of the story for me. Even without that full emotional immersion, watching their connection form and evolve was deeply satisfying and beautifully done.

── .✦

a list of things this man did that are permanently etched into my brain:
.✦ ݁˖ He expresses himself through verse, and she is the only person who ever gets to read it.
.✦ ݁˖ He notices fragments of poetry in the world and thinks of her every single time, making sure she knows it. P.S. I adore poetry, it's my salvation.
.✦ ݁˖ He takes care of her in the quietest, most intimate ways, like tending to her hair as if it’s second nature.
.✦ ݁˖ He’s always prepared for her needs, carrying food with him just in case she forgot to take care of herself that day.
.✦ ݁˖ He shows love through effort and consistency, cooking for her without making it a performance.

The romance itself is less about physical closeness and more about emotional gravity. The tension lives in pauses, unsaid things, and restraint. It’s a slow burn that prioritizes yearning over action, which I appreciated, though I did want the payoff to land a little harder after so much careful buildup.

What I truly respected was the handling of mental health and healing. There are no shortcuts here. No miraculous fixes. Just effort, relapse, discomfort, and growth that takes time. The representation feels researched and intentional, and it’s clear the author approached these topics with care rather than convenience.

>>> ──────── .✦
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Okay… quick thoughts before I emotionally spiral.

This is already screaming second-chance pain, quiet devotion, and years of unresolved yearning, which are, unfortunately, all my weaknesses. A sharp, guarded FMC and a soft, observant MMC who’s been loving her silently for years? Yeah. I’m seated and scared.

This feels like the kind of romance that hurts softly, lingering looks, unspoken words, past and present colliding. Not loud, just deep. Also, I just realized I have an ARC of this book. Completely forgot. The universe really said surprise emotional damage, early access.

Here I am anyway, bracing myself. Even tough I am dealing with health issues, reading is the only way to forget a little bit, and also this is my first read of this year, it better be good. <𝟑 .ᐟ

[veerali · Rating 5 out of 5]

tattoo this book on my fucking eyelids.

this is a public service announcement. if i could physically grab everyone reading this and shove this book into your hands, i absolutely would. because when i tell you that unbound is one of the most phenomenal, devastating, and best healing romance novels i have ever encountered, i need you to believe me down to your bones.

because this book hit me like a revelation. it made me cry and feel fundamentally seen, broken, and then carefully put back together. the scars remain, and that’s the point. that’s the brilliance of this story. miss peyton didn't just throw a gentle feather at me, she threw a concrete brick: hard, fast, and aimed right for the heart. i am emotionally bleeding from the impact this story had on me.


── ୭ plot and writing

unbound is built on the foundation of a second chance romance, a trope i will devour every single time if it’s done right. and oh, my god, this is done perfectly.

the story focuses on paloma and bennett, two people who were once everything to each other, only to be torn apart by one of the nastiest, most painful, and absolutely gut wrenching breakups that leaves debris scattered for years.

when they are forced to cross paths again, the tension is awkward, painful, and agonizing. i could feel the weight of every unspoken word, every lingering hurt, every ‘what if’ hanging between them. it's like a battleground of old trauma and new attempts at understanding. paloma and bennett's roads back are long, messy, and totally worth the emotional toll.

one of the reasons the story hits so hard is the dual timeline structure. we move seamlessly between the present, where paloma and bennett are struggling to build their fractured connection, and the past, through beautifully placed flashbacks.

these flashbacks are cute memories but also an essential context. they show us how deeply in love these characters were, how pure their connection started, and exactly where the threads began to fray. by knowing their history, we understand the stakes in the present. miss author handled this structural element with such ease that the transitions feel necessary, like a key unlocking the deep emotional puzzle these two characters must solve.


── ୭ characters

𖣠 paloma blake

paloma blake is a character who will stay with you long after you turn the final page. she carries a heavy weight and a lifetime of trauma and emotional baggage that impacts her ability to trust and commit.

learning about paloma’s past was an absolutely heartbreaking journey. her trauma isn't used as a cheap plot device but it’s treated with respect, and it provides real, understandable reasons for the walls she has built around her heart.

i absolutely adored her complexity. when she pushes bennett away, it hurts, but you get it. her actions are born out of a deep seated fear of rejection and pain. she believes pushing him away is protecting bennett's heart. i just wanted to reach into the pages and give her the biggest, most reassuring hug ever. she is flawed, she’s defensive, and she is absolutely, endlessly deserving of love. i'll always ALWAYS champion her.

𖣠 bennett reiner

gentle heroes. pathetic, obsessed men who put their partner first. this is my catnip, but bennett reiner has officially lifted the benchmark so high that it’s honestly not even fair to future book boyfriends.

bennett has his own set of struggles and baggage, but his eternal love for paloma is nothing short of breathtaking. he tolerates her trauma but also seeks to understand it.

lemme tell you, you have never read a mmc quite like bennett. he cooks for her. he pays attention to her needs without having to be asked. he is so damn pathetic (in the best, most romantic way) and so gloriously obsessed with paloma that i genuinely melted into a puddle every time he appeared on the page. his devotion is pure, his care is constant, and his patience is boundless.

𖣠 bennett + paloma

the chemistry between bennett and paloma is truly off the charts. it starts with small things: a gentle touch, a lingering stare, the subtle shift in the air when they are near each other. this slow, deliberate return to intimacy is what makes their relationship feel so earned and so real.

their love story is pure, despite the messy circumstances. they are two intrinsically flawed people who, despite everything they have endured (and inflicted on each other), are simply perfect together. their journey is a testament to the fact that when two people are meant to be, they will find their way back, even if they have to cross a minefield to get there. my heart still hurts thinking about everything they went through, but the ending is the most cathartic release possible.


── ୭ my thoughts and overview

beyond the steamy romance and the chemistry, the most vital part of unbound is its handling of trauma, mental health, and the healing process.

often in fiction, an author introduces a character with deep psychological wounds only to have a single romantic relationship instantly snap them back to health. this book rejects that cliché, and i adore the author for it.

the narrative makes it clear: love doesn’t fix everything.

what being with the right person can do, however, is make the act of breathing a little bit easier. bennett gives paloma the safe space and unconditional support she needs to heal herself. on the other hand, paloma is really patient and understanding towards bennett's own struggles and anxiety. the book beautifully and responsibly explores the ongoing nature of recovery. it shows the hard work, the missteps, and the slow, gradual process of learning to live with trauma, rather than just erasing it. this level of representation is why this book lands with such a deep impact. it made me feel so real, honest, and truly therapeutic to read.


── ୭ final verdict

this book is emotionally demanding, deeply beautiful, and masterfully written. if you love second chance romance, gentle mmcs, brave fmcs, and stories that prove that finding your forever person is often about finding the right support system, then you need to read this.

i'm force requesting every single one of you to pick up unbound when it is available. it is one of the most beautiful, unforgettable, and necessary stories you will ever read.

thank you to netgalley and atria books for the early access to this life changing novel. it truly is a 10/10 masterpiece!

[joni ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 5 stars

2 back to back 5 stars?!! who am i omg

guys can i just say again how much i adore peyton and her writing and her characters and just everything about her?!! like my queen yall her writing is to die for and i just live for this series atp

you guys there is SO many freaking mentions of toren (aka the loml) so you're in for soo many teasers. we get to know a lot about his love interest... and im a bit scared for how it's going to play out. from what we can see on her insta she has depression & in this book [redacted] is such a sweetheart. she and toren have a past but not a romantic one per se? he's super protective and would do anything for her. anywho im very excited for everyone to read this!!!

i rlly do not know what to do now



𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
ignore how many books im cr but this is worth it?!!! like my most most most anticipated title yet

SECURED THE ARC!!!! - fastest approval ever too?!!

buddy reading with one of my favs julia <33 this will be a 5 star and full of tears!!!


–––



₊⊹⁀➴ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
it's on netgalley?!!! pls pls pls arria i'd do anything


–––


edit: someone check on me i just saw the cover on insta and im not okay like what

this is my most anticipated read of 2026 !! when the cover gets released s&s canada will be hearing from me 🤭

guys SECOND CHANCE?!! OCD rep !! hello peyton is doing it again 😫

this is going to serve sooo hard omg

[maelyn]

take my money

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ Review to come. 🩷

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Know her? Sure. If by know her, he means that she is half of my soul. The tumultuous sea to my constant shore.

INFINITY STARS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼✨✨
If you didn’t like this book this is your warning right now to move along and don’t read this. (and just know I will never take a book rec from you serious ever again because this was absolute perfection and no one can convince me otherwise.) Also PLEASE check the TW list at the beginning of the book. There are some heavy topics discussed in this story.
Now to the good part…

I knew this book would mess with me, but I didn’t expect it to haunt my brain like this. From page one, it felt like someone cracked open a memory box of first love and said, here, relive this slowly—painfully slowly. And then the story said, oh, you think you’re prepared? (I was absolutely not 😭 )

The past and present switch back and forth throughout 3 years. THREE. WHOLE. YEARS. And every transition felt like emotional whiplash. One second they’re clumsy, awkward, discovering how to love someone for the first time (my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much), and then we’re yanked to the present where they can barely stand to look at each other. THE ANGST. OHHHH THE ANGST.💔💔 (I swear my heart dropped into my stomach so many different times.)

Bennett. Oh Bennett 🥹🥹🥹 Watching him love in any timeline is both the softest and hardest part. He doesn’t just like routine—he needs it. His anxiety, the rituals, the way he panics when something changes? It’s not played off as a cute little quirk. It’s real. It’s raw.

Paloma… where do I even start? She’s sharp, loud, confident on the surface, but everything underneath is cracked and scared. She pushes away the exact person she wants to run toward. And yes, sometimes I wanted to shake her (like full body shake), but the more I learned about her, the more it felt like watching someone drown quietly. It’s so frustrating to love someone who won’t let you love them.

And the way Bennett loves her? Obsessive in the gentlest way possible. Not jealous. Not controlling. Just this constant need to care. His obsession with her hair?? Don’t even get me started. 🤚🏼 I can already see people getting annoyed because it was mentioned so frequently but SERIOUSLY??? The way he yearns to touch it, play with it, wash it… Just shows his true heart in how he wants to take care of HER. He’s always paying attention. Always making sure she’s okay. (Imagine someone memorizing the way you fall apart just to make sure you never have to do it alone again 😭😭🥹) It’s devotion without trying to make it look like devotion.

The slow burn nearly killed me because it wasn’t just “will they kiss already?” It was ”will she ever stop being afraid of a love that never stopped choosing her? The tension wasn’t even physical first. It was emotional, building in silence, in eye contact, in near-touches that meant more than actual touching. (I had to close the book multiple times to breathe because I was so anxious for them. 😭)

The portrayal of therapy, healing, and coping? Chef’s kiss. 🤌🏼 Not a cure. Not a quick fix. Actual work. Actual grief. Actual change. (I could cry again just thinking about how carefully it was written.) And speaking of representation… Peyton Corinne once again puts genuine research, nuance, and heart into portraying neurodivergence. The anxiety, OCD, and autism aren’t treated as buzzwords or personality decorations; they’re explored with depth, respect, and lived-in accuracy. You can tell she truly cares how these experiences are represented. She lets characters exist in their routines, discomforts, and coping mechanisms without apologizing for them. And Paloma’s childhood trauma? The grief isn’t thrown in as a twist—it’s layered, complicated, and painfully human.

By the end, I wasn’t just rooting for them to fall in love. I was begging them to finally let themselves be loved. This book didn’t just give me a love story. It gave me a slow, unsteady unraveling that made the healing feel like the reward. And I’m keeping this one in my heart forever because once a story like this gets ahold of you… you don’t walk away from it tied up—you leave completely and utterly ✨ Unbound ✨

ALSOOOOOO. For those of you who have been waiting for Toren’s story??? After the little teasers… Oh. Oh no. Oh YES. Let’s just say I’m suspiciously prepared for a trio instead of a duo, and if I’m wrong, fine 🤚🏼—BUT IF I’M RIGHT? (Screaming. Actual screaming.)

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

”If you cut open my skin, I think his name would be written across my veins, branded on the actual muscle of my heart.”

“Her eyes are locked on me; the warm feeling of being observed by her feeds my soul.”

“He runs his pinky over mine, linking them with such tenderness I feel him in my toes. Like a piece of his soul runs through my bloodstream.”

“Bennett is more intoxicating than I'd imagine any
drug or drink might be.”

“My heart tugs like the organ is trying to burst from my chest and into his hands, where it's always belonged.”

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

📝 friend→lovers
📝 he never stops loving her
📝 second-chance
📝 SO MUCH ANGST
📝 cinnamon roll MMC
📝 aftercare 👏🏼 (he enjoys it almost more)

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and Peyton Corrine for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

spice rating:【 🔥🔥🔥 】
language: yes

⸻⸻⸻

・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

I actually screamed when I saw I was approved for this arc 😭 I was OBSESSED with Unloved. Brb as I spend the next day only reading this 🥹

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

Story time:

Once upon a time, I had 'Unsteady' , the first book in this series, on my TBR. A little while later, it disappeared out of the blue… but that’s a story for another time.

Then, earlier this year, many of my book friends recommended Unloved, the second book in the series. I never got the opportunity to read it, though it’s definitely one I plan to pick up in the (near) future.

Lastly, I’d been seeing promos for THIS book, Unloved, all over Instagram, and with each post, my interest only grew — without even realizing it was connected to the previous books I mentioned. Magically, I got approved for an ARC, and as you can probably tell, I’m very excited to read it in the very near future!

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

My "I'm not crying, you're crying" moment with this book could last forever! Okay, if you happen to be passing through WeHo and spot some blotchy, red-nosed, red-eyed, emotionally disturbed nerdy figure drinking Chardonnay while scream-crying into the pages of a book—that's me you're seeing! This book is absolutely amazing! But I need to be honest: it's not for everyone. If you dare to cry it all out, if you want to give a million hugs to the main characters and wish you could invent a protective cocoon to shield them from the world, then dive right in! Oh boy, this one will wreck you in the best possible way.

Dear Paloma—this young woman who's suffered through so much—reading about her story involving all those triggering subjects may break your heart into irreparable pieces. Her journey is raw, painful, and deeply moving. But I advise you to put on your big girl pants and bravely read each chapter, which is heartbreaking yet also healing. This is an evolving second-chance story about suffering, pain, and angst, but more importantly, it's about breaking through your barriers, learning to be open and vulnerable, and allowing yourself to be emotionally naked in front of the one person who deserves you forever.

And Bennett—oh, Bennett! This neurodivergent goalie who likes to stick to his daily routines, who only wants to protect the girl he's fallen hard for, who's ready to burn the entire world to ashes if it means providing her with the protection and support she needs—this young man is the kindest human being you can imagine. I loved how they met, how they crashed into each other's lives, how they burned bright and fierce, how they evolved separately and together, and how they found their way back to one another with just the slightest intervention from the universe. Some parts of their story hurt too much to read—so much that I had to pause, breathe, and let the tears fall freely.

But Peyton Corinne has achieved something remarkable here. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. She doesn't soften the pain or smooth over the hard edges. Instead, she gives us raw, natural, realistic moments without agitating or exaggerating the trauma. She treats her characters—and her readers—with respect, giving us enough emotional space to absorb what we're reading and connect with our own inner pain. The result is a story that feels authentic, lived-in, and deeply cathartic.

This is my first book by this author, and I'm absolutely certain this is just the beginning of my journey exploring her creative mind. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the near future. For now, I'm giving this one my five blazing stars while singing (sorry to my neighbors for the torture I'm inflicting on them) Taylor Swift's "You're in Love":
You can feel it on the way home
You can see it with the lights out, lights out
You are in love, true love
You are in love

Because that's exactly what this book made me feel—that overwhelming, all-consuming, beautifully devastating kind of love.

Millions of thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this amazing book that brought out my ugly cries in the best way possible, in exchange for my pure, honest thoughts.

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[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my most anticipated reads of '26, and i know it won't disappoint
♡♡♡♡♡♡
omg omg omg i got the arc!!!! i'm so happy and excited!
♡♡♡♡♡♡

I finished this in record time! This book was truly so beautiful and well-composed. It had amazing representations of mental health and trauma, as well as the non-linear yet so important process of healing and growth. The charecter dynamics were to die for, and I love Paloma and Bennett so much, and Lily is a complete sweetheart. I really enjoyed the first two books, but this one I truly loved with my whole heart!! If there's one thing about me, it's that I deeply connect with my closed-off self-sabotage girls; they're my babies.

Anyway, on to the most important part: Toren Kane a.k.a. my book bf who doesn't even have his own book yet. All of the little cameos of him and Lily were literally to die for. He has Van Gogh tattoos and she has Van Gogh prints, he has a tattoo of a Lily (her name), they clearly have history, and I'm just so incredibly excited for their book!!

Also I got this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Payton Corinne, Arria Books, and NetGalley!! This made my day <3

[Kelsey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: My heart beats for Paloma and Bennett. This series is the closest thing to the feeling that Boys of Tommen by Chloe Walsh gave me that I’ve found yet. Unbound is book 3 in the Undone series and should be read in order.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
A massive than you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced electronic copy. These are my honest opinions. This book comes out April 7!
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Paloma and Bennett met during fall of Freshman year in college and quickly become each other’s lifelines. But when both of their pasts collide, they learn that some demons can’t be outrun.
– FMC: Paloma Blake (aka “P” or “love”). Tries to hide in the shadows because she’s often been compared to her mother's good looks and that’s gotten her into terrifying situations in the past. Is patient and kind but weighed down by trauma and doesn’t know how to cope.
– MMC: Bennett Reiner (aka “Ben” or “love”). “autistic guy with OCD”/“silent hockey goalie who doesn’t like people” Sweet and caring of those in his inner circle. Loves Paloma’s hair (like an obsessive amount).
– Location: Massachusetts
– POV: Dual first-person / dual timeline
– Spice: 9 open-door spicy scenes (some more explicit than others, many romantic vs. vulgar)
– Tropes: strangers to lovers, second chance, virgin MMC, hockey romance, college/new adult, it’s always been you, poetry lovers,
– Content warning: obsessive thought spirals, compulsive acts, panic attacks, childhood trauma (specifically child neglect, sexual abuse, and grooming of a minor), mild violence, depression, anxiety, sudden breakup, corrupt law enforcement
– Representation: mental health (autistic MMC, OCD MMC, depression/anxiety MCs), therapy, therapy dog

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Stay by Michelle Featherstone

╰┈➤ ❝If I build a wall a hundred feet tall, would that keep you in? If I shackled your feet so you couldn’t leave, would you try and run?...Or would you stay?❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh, Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy, and Collide by Bal Khabra
➼ Emotional romances with broken characters and a fair amount of spice

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——————✧—————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

My heart beats for Paloma and Bennett. I could tell just by the little glimpses we got of them in Unsteady and Unloved that their story was going to pack a punch, and this book delivered on that front. The trauma and hurdles that both Paloma and Bennett have in this book will touch many readers—Paloma with her complicated and abusive past and Bennett with his highly relatable autism and OCD. Their story unfolds as a second chance of sorts, complete with a tear-jerking catalyst for the reason the broke up in the past.

Some readers, however, may find the pacing and layout of the timeline disorienting. There were a few times I was reading a chapter and had to refer back to the chapter header to confirm if I was actually reading something in the past or present, because they shift often yet they parallel so much. I believe this is intentional, as it definitely mimics and puts the reader through a thought spiral. There were times where it felt so abrupt to me that it took me out of the story, though, so others may feel the same way.

That said, the representation in this book was painfully beautiful, and I loved that the story was also told in tandem with poetry—some real, some written by the author as the characters. I also loved the inclusion of Bennett's therapy dog, Seven, who is the bestest boy.

I cannot wait for more from this series and Peyton Corinne in the future.

Would I Recommend?: Yes, please read this series—especially if you love emotional romances.

╰┈➤ ❝Take the time you need, but then you have to get up. That’s what we do. We get up. We keep going. Women can survive anything. We’re the stronger ones—remember that when someone tries to make you feel small or weak.❞

—————————————-
Pre-read thoughts: I just got approved for this ARC!!!! I had given up, but happy early Christmas to me :)

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

YOUR HONOR, TATTOO THIS BOOK ON MY FUCKING FOREHEAD!!

literally everytime i think about them, i cry..

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• paloma blake
her backstory literally broke my heart considering how similar it is to mine.. she's so strong and resilient, absolutely love her to death. ugh just want to hug her so badly cuz this girl literally went through hell

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• bennett reiner
this man is perfect! a total simp for her and i'm here for it. i just love how he takes care of her, like he cooks for her, packs her lil snacks, washes her hair, writes her freaking poetry!!1!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• honorable mention: toren kane (the loml)
my heart breaks for this guy, the way he's so protective of [redacted]!?!! i just love him and i know that his book will forever be sure break my heart... emotional damage incoming...

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• honorable mention: [redacted] (toren's love interest)
so many lil crumbs of her in this book and i was eating it up like no tomorrow.. she's just a freaking sweetheart and i love her so much already!!! assfghjjlkl-

also really enjoyed the sadierhys and rofreddy cameos in this book, makes me want to reread the entire series again ahaha

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

peyton!!! rtc when i can actually see through my tears... i'm officially a shrivelled up raisin. the pain that i went through reading this?!!

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
01/01/2026 — okay i guess i'm gonna read this.. here we go..

21/06/2025 — so i guess we'll be ugly crying about this one... i fear this book will break me, second chance and dual timeline!??

my heart is not okay, i just bennett to have a happy ending atp

[naz]

➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ omfg I got approved for this ARC and the way I know this will destroy me :) can't wait!!!!

[abby :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i lasted a total of five minutes before seeing this hit my inbox and downloading it. yes, i read it in seven hours and i’ve never been prouder of myself.

peyton knows what she’s doing, the sweet men she concocts with her words, i love her and i love them. i’ve been waiting for this book and with every tiny scene of them in the other two stories i grew more impatient. i couldn’t be happier that they exceeded my expectations and if you read this and don’t love them… please don’t call.

bennett is just the sweetest human being and he’s so protective and smart and lovely, i need him. paloma, my dear girl, has been through so much and she’s so strong and i love her. the friendships she forms in this book, the family she creates, i couldn’t be happier for her and i just want to give her a hug. bennett loves her so much and it’s so clear, peyton you’ve outdone yourself!!!

finally, i can’t write a review for this series without mentioning my love, toren kane!!!! guys he has page time in this book and lines and i love him more if possible. i cannot wait to see what peyton does with this next book becuase i have so many theories and there’s so much to say about him… about ****, about holden… ITS ALL SO GOOD!!!!!!

i honestly have so much more to say about them but this review would be a novel and the book isn’t out for six months so i have to chill. i’ll be back in april!

*thank you netgalley and atria for the copy!*

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am at a loss for words at just how achingly beautiful this book is.

6 ⭐️.

in 3 days (november 7th) itll have been exactly two years since i started unsteady and fell head over heels with peyton’s writing and her characters, in every book of hers she has made me feel so seen whether it be in a big or small way almost every moment spent reading one of her books heals me a little bit more. theres something so special about reading characters that deal with things i have struggled with daily, things that feel so insurmountable to me most days and seeing them come out on the other side of it. being able to follow these journeys that i so heavily relate to at many different points in my life really helps me in either closing that chapter of my life or helping me to finally get that push to move forward and out of that headspace. these books are very raw and relatable in a way that i dont think i will ever be able to express my gratitude towards peyton enough for putting them out into the world and allowing me to see myself in her characters and feeling less alone.

“The way I feel about Paloma Blake is both a leash around my heart and a noose around my throat, threatening me in every capacity.”

this book had me in tears at the top of page damn two and it did NOT let up on me until the very end. the emotional rollercoaster that is this book will be some of the most painful yet stunning words you will read. peyton saw us screaming to bring back yearning and said hold my bag.

“It’s our routine now. It hurts, but I worry it would hurt infinitely worse to not know if she was okay. To always be wondering. So, for now, this is enough. I’ll take whatever she’s willing to give—even if it’s only this, forever.”

“If you cut open my skin, I think his name would be written across my veins, branded on the actual muscle of my heart. And I’d bleed for him over and over to keep him away from me, from the horrid, disgusting girl I became. Still, I let the Bennett Reiner of my imagination lull me as I step into the unfamiliar bathroom to wash off.”

alexa play i look in peoples windows by taylor swift. these two are the epitome of “does it feel alright to not know me? im addicted to the ‘if only.’”. the way the present chapters of this book, especially in the beginning and middle i literally felt like the air was being sucked out of my lungs. it was so painful to watch these two be so miserable and desperate to take whatever the other was willing to give. i am not the biggest dual timeline girl but god damn was i eating up anything peyton was willing to give part or present, it never felt like i got enough of them i loved them so much all i wanted was more.

i dont think there will be a day where i will ever get over this book. i feel that way about the entire series quite honestly, it is just that precious to me but most specifically i will NEVER get over the love that bennett and paloma share. i could truly go on forever in this review and quite honestly i very well may come back to do just that once ive had more time to process this book and maybe even have another reread by the time its released.

also shout out to adam reiner, just because dilf.
and shout out to the book 4 teases, god i already know im gonna devour.
double also shout out to peyton for creating yet another masterpiece for me to cry over

[poppi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
received as an arc through netgalley.

review to come but this was an absolute masterpiece. thank you, peyton, for creating such a beautiful story.

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

no one talk to me this was perfection and I’m still processing. peyton’s writing is phenomenal and visceral and i will actually never move on from them!!!!!

beta read. full rtc

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, 5 stars just is not enough.
There’s some heavy stuff in here, but it was so worth it.

*Full RTC closer to official publication date, as requested by Atria Books.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing is in this book is middle grade, like I can't take anything serious here.

[daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

five (million) stars.

one thing i absolute adore while reading is when you can so clearly tell that the author has poured everything into the characters and the story. to me, that is what makes the difference between a book i like and one i love; one that will stay with me long after the final page.

unbound is a heartbreakingly beautiful second chance romance with two endearing characters who you can’t help but fall in love with. the story is tender at its heart yet at the same time so incredibly devastating as well. throughout these pages we explore both love and trauma and how these two can be so messily intertwined. the journey is filled with grief and struggles but amongst those hardships there’s still so much support, hope, and love to find, and this is reflected in the changes we see in paloma and bennett, both individually and as a couple.

this book simply had everything that i personally look for in a romance novel. we have these two well-written and well-fleshed out characters, an engaging plot, a handful of deeper and more complex themes and topics, and on top of all of this we get jeff buckey levels of yearning. i couldn’t ask for anything more. absolutely brilliant. a masterpiece of its kind.

the publisher very kindly provided this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Larareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to NetGalley, the publisher and Peyton Corinne for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this reach my kindle I was in public and I literally screamed and started crying so yeah... maybe one of the best moments of me being a reader!!!

Reading this book was sooo beautiful... but also extremely heartbreaking.

Bennett is the sweetest MMC in the entire world!!! I love him with all my heart. He was so damn protective and loyal and loving with Paloma that every moment he was with her just made me love him more. Paloma, my sweet girl, has been through Hell, but she is soooo incredibly strong and I loved seeing her grow in this book. The love I have for these too is unmatched!!! The YEARNING in Unbound is just perfection!!!
This might have been the hardest book I ever had to read because it's so emotional... but it might have also been the most beautiful book I ever read and I have absolutely no regrets!!!
There is one thing that Peyton Corinne does sooo incredibly well and that's mental health representation and this is why I will forever love her and her books!!!

I officially know who the next book is about and I'm sooo fucking excited for Toren and the FMC!!! Their book will definitely be as incredible as the rest from the series!

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ˖⁺‧✮

i’m the biggest fan of peyton and her book, so as soon as “unbound” was announced, i was desperate to read it. unfortunately, it was a disappointing read.

the book touches on heavy topics related to mental health, and i just believe that the author is not read to write about it. both main characters struggle with mental health and not just struggle but they literally drown in stress, anxiety and feelings. sure, representation of these topics is really important but i hate the way author wrote about it. the writing felt very weak and unsuitable for this book. it felt like an average sport romance but with an overwhelming amount of trauma put into it. characters had only mental health characteristics attached to them, fully erasing their unique personalities. i understand that sometimes it feels like it, when you have go through similar things, but i truly wish we’d get to see more of characters themselves. the whole book only focuses on mental health and i just think it shadows everything else. i think the author had a truly great idea but she literally forgot about everything else in the universe.

i love the way poetry was incorporated into the book. it was truly beautiful and actually an interesting detail about the plot. i also enjoyed seeing them write their own poetry!!! so cute. also, the dog was such a great addition. however, here comes my questions. i didn’t fully understand the sex… both of them talked about not having sex when going through an episode, feeling overwhelmed or anxious but wasn’t it like that at the end? in the last 4-5 chapters?

i wish we get to see more of how relationships formed. to see why bennet had such a weird dynamic with his mom and dad. also see how paloma got out of her family and in general see her childhood.

finally, i was really confused by the way this book was formed. it had some chapters in the “past” and “present” but also a lot of flashbacks scenes which could have been put into “past”…

i think this book had a great potential in mixing sport romance but also showing a deep and complex side of mental health. unfortunately, i don’t believe it was correctly reflected in the book🙇‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc.

[AshReadThis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first from Peyton after seeing a couple of people I follow on IG rave about her books.

This college hockey romance has a super sweet premise and an emotional core that will really resonate with readers who enjoy neurodivergence representation, which is what intrigued me about this book to begin with. I appreciated the focus on mental health and neurodivergent representation, particularly how the MMC’s OCD was woven into the narrative in a way that felt intentional and meaningful.

The romance itself is incredibly tender and fans of college sports romance will likely enjoy the dynamics between the characters.

The story timeline felt pretty disjointed for me and I did feel this story was far longer than it needed to be for the plot content.

Overall, this is a thoughtful story with strong representation and a lot of heart. Peyton clearly put a lot of care into these characters and their experiences.

What to expect:
🏒 college hockey romance
🏒 neurodivergence/OCD rep
🏒 second chance romance
🏒 cinnamon roll MMC
🏒 found family
🏒 dual timeline and POV

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These characters. This book. They’re both going to stick with me for a long time.

I absolutely loved Bennett and Paloma. Bennett is this big, tough hockey player that everyone assumes is rough around the edges, but deep down all he wants is to protect the people he loves. Paloma is beautiful and seemingly has it all, but inside she’s fighting to love herself. Watching them fall for each other and sometimes fall apart was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in the best way. My heart physically broke watching Bennett struggle and Paloma grasp for happiness.

Peyton Corinne handled so many real and eye-opening issues with such care and authenticity. My heart broke again and again, and I found myself literally yelling at the book to stop hurting me. The way she wove the past and present together made the story fast paced and emotional, giving us just enough backstory right when we needed it.

I honestly don’t know how she’ll top this, but I’m anxiously waiting for Toren’s story. Unbound is raw, emotional, and unforgettable.

[Kimberly Del Cid · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could, I would give this book a million stars. It is a beautiful and unique MASTERPIECE. I am still emotionally recovering from the MCs tragic journey to falling in love. The angst, yearning, and emotions were high the whole book, I couldn't stop crying. The writing is incredible and I love how different this book is from Peyton's previous 2 books. In general this book feels so special and unlike anything I've read so far. The raw emotions from Bennett and peeling back the layers on Paloma made for a story I cannot wait to revisit. The poetry between the two of them made me want to rip my heart out. These two gentle MCs are everything to me and must be protected at all costs.

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ I first fell head over heels with Unloved, and Unbound is just as, if not more, heartbreakingly beautiful with another tale of two broken souls who see each other past the masks they put up so carefully in front of others. This second-chance romance taking place in dual timelines is filled with Peyton Corinne’s signature angst and yearning with Bennett and Paloma learning to trust one another and loving the other unconditionally amidst their deep-rooted struggles ❤️

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Oh, Paloma Blake. You deserve the world and so much more than you were led to believe. Paloma is the definition of someone who was hurt by a mother who was supposed to love and protect her and someone who struggled so hard to trust in people after her countless ordeals. She was taken advantage of in so many ways, not just physically, and it’s something that she tries to overcome throughout the entire book. Paloma is independent but truly desires a love that isn’t selfish and makes her feel safe. She’s so critical of herself, believing that she doesn’t deserve to be happy because of the guilt of the past that she carries with her every day that makes my heart hurt reading through. She overcomes so much to open her heart to Bennett, his loved ones and his friends that she lets herself be vulnerable and be loved the way that she should be 💗

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ It would have been interesting to see exactly what her dynamics were like with her mother, even in flashbacks, but it’s also an important message that you don’t necessarily have to hold on to the past if it doesn’t benefit your future. I also would have loved to see more of Paloma’s relationships with Alessia and Sadie. I love that one scene towards the end where Alessia and Adam, Bennett’s dad, are comforting her and Paloma remarks on how that moment is what it likely felt like to have good parents because she allows herself to be comforted by parent figures. And I especially loved how the topic of child grooming, child abuse, and abuse of power were handled in this book. It was so satisfying seeing Paloma come to terms with what happened to her with a strong support system and see her finally get long-awaited justice 🏠

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Bennett Reiner, the man that you are. He’s the glue holding all his friends and loved ones together, always making sure people are safe and fed. He’s a caretaker at heart and despite his own struggles with autism and OCD, he constantly worries about his loved ones and ruminates over the guilt he feels in doing so. He feels upset for his dad after seeing similarities in himself with Adam Reiner. He beats himself up for not noticing his best friend, Rhys, when he was struggling even when it wasn’t something that Bennett could control and not being able to help him in his darkest times. And most of all, he’s frustrated with himself as he thinks he wasn’t enough to support Paloma and what she was going through. Bennett is so fiercely protective of those who he loves and loves them with his strong, gentle nature without trying to push boundaries 💬

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ I love Bennett’s relationship with Rhys and I love that the aftermath of Rhys’ accident and their friendship was written so well. I also cannot say more about Bennett’s relationship with his dad with how much they mirror each other. His dad truly wants the best for Bennett and it was so nice to see them finally reconnect and come to an understanding towards the end of the book. Surprisingly, I also really liked the dynamic between Toren and Bennett in how they weren’t necessarily friends but they extended their good intentions to the other when it counted most; Bennett inviting Toren to their family breakfast, Toren helping Bennett through his panic attack. There is so much well-written relationship building and development that makes the story even more compelling 🥅

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Right after Freddy and Ro, Bennett and Paloma are probably my second favourite couple. The way that they know each other inside and out, from their strengths and weaknesses to their deepest desires and darkest fears. Both of them are so multi-faceted and complex that it makes you root for them to see better days together because of their complicated past and their first try at their relationship. Bennett takes his time to cook for her as his love language, wash and brush her hair, give her favourite snacks, and help her feel safe enough to sleep even with the looming fear of her nightmares. Paloma goes the extra mile to understand Bennett’s compulsions and thoughts, trying to meet him halfway and provide him a solution instead of brushing his concerns aside. Despite them pulling away and pushing towards each other numerous times, they find their way back to each other and learn that they can try again as long as they put their trust into their relationship no matter how intimidating it seems ♥️

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ I cannot recommend this enough to those who love stories filled with angst and tension, a gentle giant MMC who tries to take care of everyone, a careful and guarded FMC who believes she doesn’t deserve love, and a happily ever after that is wholeheartedly deserved for both MCs. Unbound is filled with poetic, eloquent writing that makes your heart race with anticipation and slow down with quiet but steady longing for a love as selfless as Bennett and Paloma’s 💖

Thank you to Peyton Corinne, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

What to expect:
- Second chance romance 💘
- Sports romance 🏒
- College setting
- Guarded party girl FMC x gentle hockey goalie MMC 🎉🥅
- Spicy/open-door romance 🌶️
- Found family
- Mental health rep: autism, OCD 💭 (thought spirals, compulsive acts, panic attacks)
- Discussions of childhood trauma, child neglect, sexual abuse, grooming of a minor
- Dual POV written in present tense

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars!!!

This is one of my most highly anticipated books of, probably, all time! They are basically all I could think about since I read book one, and they did not disappoint. Bennett and Palomar are probably some of my favorite characters of all time. I cried, I laughed, I cheered, I really felt it all with them. I can not say much unfortunately without risk of spoiling, and as someone who basically always wants to know about what I am going into, I think the surprise element made it even better.

In terms of safety, since that is what I personally always want to know:
- Fmc (Paloma) is with OM, we get some details such as encounters with previous partners, if you have read books 1 and/or 2, it's not more than that.
- Mmc (Bennett) admits to being with another woman, as well as a mention of waking up in bed with someone after he got so drunk and has no memory. When with OW, there is pretty explicit detail but he ends up not being able to follow through. He tells Paloma about this (honestly one of the saddest parts of the book).

Why it's not a 5:
- The pacing of the present timeline, it went from nothing to basically back together SO quickly. It doesn't fully make sense why Paloma suddenly changed her mind considering the reasoning for her actions of the past.
- Surprisingly, and quite rarely, I do not mind about the safety. OP drama in an incredibly dramatic books (similar to like shows). However, the marketing of this book does lean very heavily into the yearning and waiting tropes, which I feel didn't completely portray the reality of the safety. I do think this wouldn't be even something I thought about if I didn't have an ARC or I knew ahead of time.

All around, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely plan to reread and buy the physical book as soon as I can!